Durham College’s four winners of the 2016 Chemical Institute of Canada (CIC) say they were well prepared by their college professors.

The CIC winners are: Chemical Laboratory Technician program students Da Eun Chung, who won the silver medal, and Brittney Richards, who won the book prize; Chemical Engineering Technology program students Natasha Beattie, who won the silver medal, and Kelsey Henderson, who won the book prize. Silver medals are presented to the top students completing their final year at each Canadian college in chemical technology or related programs. Book prizes are presented to the student at each Canadian college completing her or his final year while demonstrating the greatest improvement overall.

Brittney said Durham College (DC) professors really motivated her to improve. “The profs teach us to really think outside of the box. They tell us to think “why” you’re doing something beyond the assignment that we are working on.”

Kelsey agreed saying, “Professors push and encourage us to achieve. They make you want to work harder.”

Da Eun said, “The attention to detail required in my lab courses came in especially handy while I was sifting through records and filling out spreadsheets in my work-study job in the president’s office.”

Natasha added that DC’s environment is very positive for students and its programs are well known. “I love Chemistry – so I came here.”

Each year the Chemical Institute of Canada administers awards and competitions to recognize the outstanding contributions by students at Canadian universities and colleges. The CIC is a national not-for-profit organization committed to advancing chemical sciences and engineering through its constituent societies in chemistry, chemical engineering, and chemical technology.